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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Sarah Martin

Interest in Melbourne Cup slips with more than half of Australians uninterested, poll suggests

James McDonald riding Verry Elleegant winning the 2021 Melbourne Cup
James McDonald riding Verry Elleegant winning the 2021 Melbourne Cup. Guardian Essential polling shows interest in the Cup is declining. Photograph: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Australia’s love affair with the Melbourne Cup appears to be waning, with a new survey finding more than half have “low” or “no interest” in the race that traditionally stops the nation.

Amid growing support for the Nup to the Cup movement, the latest Guardian Essential poll also suggests almost half of those surveyed (45%) believe it promotes “unhealthy” gambling behaviour, with a third (34%) saying it normalises animal cruelty.

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